Choice Hits

Review by Ty Burr, Boston Globe

It is my duty to report - to the possible chagrin of more than a few readers - that "Valkyrie" is not a disaster. On the contrary: It's a smooth, compelling, almost suspenseful (more on that in a bit), and slightly hollow Hollywood period piece - a World War II action-drama in which an intriguing (but not electrifying) star performance is buttressed by stellar support. Above all, it finally gives Tom Cruise a mission that actually turns out to be impossible.

That knowledge - that the conspiracy headed by German Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise) failed to assassinate Adolf Hitler and stage a successful coup d'etat on July 20, 1944 - hangs over "Valkyrie" like an anvil on a thread. Director Bryan Singer, reuniting with his "Usual Suspects" screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie as well as Nathan Alexander, works feverishly to whip up excitement, throwing datelines and tick-tock time titles on the screen as if to glue us to the moment. "11 a.m.," "4:15 p.m.," "6:39 p.m." - after a while I just synchronized my watch and said the hell with it.

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